EDITORIAL
June 2012
Transparency is not a buzzword, but a philosophy to live by. Corporations, governments, and civil society, among other aggrupations, are called upon to be transparent and accountable to its stakeholders, and these demands are sometimes even enshrined in their mission-vision, and stated as part of their corporate social responsibility credos. An organisation’s performance is usually gauged by its reports to its Board and stakeholders, mostly on its financial standing, environmental accountabilities, and the organisation’s adherence to its professed vision-mission-values.
On homefront, the Philippine Fiesta of Victoria Inc. has been on shaky grounds these days due to issues of transparency. A concerned group of former PFVI executives, friends and supporters was formed to question the sale of the portion of the Laverton property. The group alleged that the sale did not go through proper consultation and that the executives were not transparent in their actions. (See related story on pp.1, 9, and 10).
When distrust and loss of confidence in the leadership happens, it breaks the circle of trust among constituents and stakeholders and this could lead to mutiny or factionalism. The organisation becomes divided because the leader loses the moral authority to unite and inspire people towards the same goals.
But this doesn’t have to happen. To be Filos worth our ancestry thriving in a multicultural environment, the first thing to do in this case is to open the lines of communications. Talk and air sides, but also be willing to listen. Come into the discussion front armed with reason and not biased judgment of the situation. It is when the rule of the mob prevails that we fail to fix what’s still fixable and piece the broken parts to once more form a whole.
Failing to be completely honest and account for one’s actions is a serious lapse in judgement. We Filos put a high premium on honesty, or being makatotoo and matapat. On that note, this is a challenge for the Management Committee to face the music and answer all the allegations hurled at it. At the same time, for the concerned group to listen judiciously and focus on the issues and not on the personalities. Afterall, we’re not only after the truth, but also restoring unity in our community despite dissenting opinions.
As Filos, we all aspire to tread the “matuwid na daan.” We are a community making a dent in this society, and this type of division is not one that characterises our people who in history is renowned as one not to condone indiscretion yet manage to fight in a peaceful way.
